Double Scoop Still Life

These warm days sure don't feel like February. For a little bit of frosty goodness, head over to Busters for some Fosselman's ice cream. It's even better if you sit at one of the charming little outdoor tables. There are views of this, and this, and this, and sometimes this and (if you look closely enough) this.

Time Out

There are a lot of great places to take a break in South Pas. This sunny spot outside of Busters is one of my favorites.

Multicolored

When Jon and I were first married, we painted the walls and doors of our West LA house about a dozen different colors. It was kind of like living inside of a kaleidoscope. All you had to do was turn your head for festive, ever changing views of what would have otherwise been a fairly nondescript late 1940s bungalow. In a part of town known for its beige stucco, the inside of that house was a welcome change. It was hard to stay bored staring at a ceiling painted with multicolored flowers, hard to stay mad at a dinner table surrounded by red walls and gold stars. If there had been a staircase in that house, I probably would have painted it just like this one at Busters.

I've been musing about South Pasadena's multicolored landscape lately ... just check out my latest column at Patch. It should post sometime before lunch today.

Update Tuesday Morning: Thanks to the readers pointing out my latest article and video aren't showing up under my column heading at Patch this week. Until it gets fixed, just click here for the South Pas Patch front page and you'll find my column.

Sunset from Busters...

...it's a nice way to wind down the day.

Refill

It was far too pretty outside to take advantage of Busters' charming interior space. But doesn't it look cool in the late afternoon light?

Urban Oasis

Tasty ice cream and strong coffee aren't the only reasons why Busters is such an uplifting spot for afternoon refreshment. Don't you just love the colors of the building itself? (You can see more of it here.) Add a little Sunday afternoon live music and this South Pas hangout is a perfect prescription for the blahs.

Best of 2008

It's not only the start of a brand new year ... it's also Theme Day for participating City Daily Photo bloggers. This month's theme is the rather daunting "Best Photograph of 2008." (No pressure or anything...)

I have no idea which Glimpses of South Pasadena photo is my best. It's too hard for me to be objective -- and photography is such a subjective art, anyway. What I can say is that this particular photograph is my favorite. (I first posted it here.) I'll never forget the odd but wonderful feeling I had when, while having coffee and ice cream with my family at Busters, I glanced at the large window and saw my darling little 3 year old girl's reflection blending with the face of the beautiful, thoughtful young woman behind the glass. It was like a time slippage, a peek at my little girl's future self, a reminder of how quickly things change and children grow up, a moment of transition so elegantly presented. I grabbed my camera and took a shot right as my daughter moved and the entire vision disappeared. I never expected the image to come out resembling anything close to the experience of the moment. Oh, the joy of happy accidents!

So there you have it... my best of 2008 represented in two hopeful faces of our future generations. Isn't that what new years are all about, anyway?

Take time to explore the remarkable collection of favorite 2008 photographs from talented bloggers all over the world.

Time Warp

I was enjoying a cup of coffee on the bench outside Busters with my family yesterday. I noticed a beautiful, thoughtful young woman through the window, just inches from us but separated by glass. Suddenly, I saw an interesting and heartwarming reflection: my own thoughtful little daughter’s silhouette almost superimposed against the image of a lovely future version of her.

My little girl jumped up to climb in her Daddy's lap. The young woman turned away. The light changed. But this is what I captured in that passing moment.

Busters Ice Cream and Coffee Stop

There are cool places ... and then there are coooooool places. Busters is a great combination of hip as well as timeless. Bogart might as well be sitting on that bench, pulling down his fedora to block the sun. This is where Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy would have chatted if they'd been in Southern California instead of Vienna.

Grab a great cup of coffee, a Fosselmans ice cream cone, and a nifty view of Thursday's Farmer's Market. If you take the Gold Line, just get off at Mission and walk across the street.